I thought since Halloween lands mid week this year and it's likely most of you will be heading out to party this upcoming weekend instead of this evening. If you're still stumped in the costume department I thought I'd help you out with some easy last minute costume ideas you can throw together out of your own vintage wardrobe.

Mime
This is a classic, but a fun costume I think. It's a costume that comes with an attitude! You can be trapped in a box, pull on imaginary ropes and all sorts of other mime-y things!
This was an easy costume to cobble together. It's comfortable and recognizable.
You could pull out all the stops and wear a full white face, but if you're not into that, drawing a tear under one eye and some triangles around the other like I did with and eyeliner pencil will get the message across.

Every good vintage loving gal has a sailor dress in her closet. I also happen to have a gob (name for the classic white sailor hat) in mine as well (I found it at Value Village one day and couldn't resist bringing it home). If you need one to complete your costume check your local Dollarstore or Halloween Party Store.

This is another easy, comfortable costume. And as you can see, you don't need to be exposing skin and be "sexy". This costume is cute and is still costume-y enough. It's certainly better than showing up to a party without a costume!

For added effect, I drew an "tattoo" anchor on my forearm with a black eyeliner pencil. Sailor inspired temporary tattoos would be fun too!

Mother Nature
This costume is up for interpretation. I threw on a bright vintage flowery dress and pinned every flower brooch I have to it and wore green tights and shoes (which are a bit hard to see in this pic). I even pinned a decorative birds nest into my hair!
For the purposes of this photo I only applied a little green eyeshadow and some pink lipstick, but if I were actually going to wear this costume out I would go all out with my makeup. Bright eyeshadow, crazy coloured fake lashes, maybe even glue some leaves or butterflies to my face. I'd also spray my hair green to look like grass. Can't you imagine it?!

This might be my favourite costume in the bunch - I will definitely be wearing this one year soon.

I pinned the bottom of my jacket back so it looked more like a tailcoat wore a layered a thick elastic belt at the top of my jeans to get a high waisted look. High waisted black or red pants would do the trick too. Or shorts and tights. The options are limitless.

For the blouse, go for something frilly so it looks like you've got a jabot. I pinned a sparkly bow shaped brooch to my neck. You could opt for any appropriate brooch you've got at home.

And don't think you have to have a red blazer to rock this look. I think it could also work if you had red pants and a black blazer. People will get the idea.

And if you're missing a top hat and want one on a budget, check Pintrest or YouTube for a tutorial on how to make one with felt or cardboard.

My whip is simply a black leather skinny belt. I held the buckle in my hand.

Leopard
Meow!
This costume would work just as well if you had a leopard print cardigan and wore some black pants. I happen to have a leopard print dress, so it was my number one! I paired my dress with black tights, black gloves and leopard print heels.
I didn't have cat ears (perhaps a surprise for a girl who just happens to have a top hat and a sailor gob in her closet! haha!), so I made these ears with a black headband and some cardboard I coloured black with a sharpie and taped to the headband. Worked like a charm!
Again, I went super simple with the makeup for this look and painted the underside of my nose with black eyeliner pencil. You could go super elaborate if you want or keep it simple like me. Your choice.
If you don't own any leopard print clothing, dress in black and go as a black cat.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The Boy and I went out for an impromptu drink on Sunday night - he was having a rough day and needed to get out of the house. I was happy to oblige.

I'm trying to get real with myself about Outfit posts these days. I usually only want to take outfit photos of dresses or really cute/special outfits. As if you guys wouldn't be interested in the way I wear my clothes every day. The fact of the matter is that I really like to wear pants and right now my style is really about the mix: girly and edgy, vintage and modern with a touch of pin-up/rockabilly.
So in an effort to get past my own head games I'm going to start taking more outfit photos.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

I always get excited for fall dressing. Cozy, warm layers and especially fur. I'm not picky either, I'll take faux or the real deal.

This cardigan happens to be of the faux fur variety. It is an oldie, but a goodie. I bought it new from Ricki's when I was in university and even though it's fallen out of rotation from time to time I've never ever been able to give it away. It's a great example of high street fashion mimicking great vintage style.

It's starting to get noticeably dark here much earlier and I'm so glad I opted to paint my dressing room white. It's making taking outfit photos indoors much easier at night.

50's Cat Eye Glasses: were Grandma Cotton's

Faux Fur Collar Pink Cardigan: Ricki's

Rhinestone Key Brooch: Rhymes with Orange

Black Jersey Dress: Buffalo

Black Plaid Tights: Ricki's

40's Black Suede Peep Toe Slingbacks: Vintage Glory

Best Purse in the Entire World (goes with freakin' everything!): thrifted, Value Village

Need more daily outfit inspiration from Butterflies and Daisys? Follow me on Instagram! I post there almost daily!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Yesterday I posted the products I use to cleanse my face morning and night.

Today I'll be sharing my favourite makeup products! This is my daily arsenal. I never leave the house without makeup on - at the very least a light sweep of foundation, blush and mascara. Wearing makeup everyday makes me feels good. It always makes me feel polished and ready to take on whatever the day brings.

I've always loved makeup. I remember begging my mother to let me wear it in junior high. I can still remember my first green Cover Girl pressed powder compact.
In the 90's, when I was in high school I wore thick black eyeliner with a wing everyday.
In university I was still sporting thick black eyeliner, but had stopped tanning and was obsessed with a milky white complexion set off with bold eyeshadow that matched my outfit. Blues, Greens, Yellows, Golds and Purples...you name it, I had wore it. I spent hours painting my face to go out dancing. And Halloween was my favourite - every costume had elaborate makeup.
It wasn't until I was in my mid 20's that I started refining the more muted, vintage look like I wear today. Nude shadow replaced the bold and lipstick became my new friend.

These days I wear the same look - with varying degrees of "glamour", so-to-speak, every day. And even though I'm not experimenting with colour the same way I did 10 years ago, doesn't mean that I love makeup any less. I still enjoy getting ready for a night out and spending time applying a perfect face.

Primer

Benefit "that gal" Brightening Face Primer (buy it here)- I'm a firm believer in primer, especially as I get older (And I happen to be out of it right now - hence the stock photo).

In my opinion, there is nothing that can replace a good primer if you want your makeup to have all day lasting power. I apply it to my eye area every day (works wonders for keeping my shadow from creeping into the fine lines), but if I've got a full day where I don't want to be reapplying my face every 2 hours I applying it all over.

There are lots of primers out in the world at varying price points, but this is my go-to. I like the light consistency, the smell and the bit of shimmer. I wear it on my face by itself if we're headed to the beach and I'm not wearing any makeup (ok, so there is one example of me leaving the house without makeup...but it's the only time) - it gives my face a pretty glow.

Foundation

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer (in N15) (buy it here) - I apply my concealer with clean fingertips to any spots and around my nostrils (I do this because I have a bit of redness there and foundation never covers it properly. For a truly flawless finish I find that applying concealer to this area is a must everyday). I do this before foundation and touch up after foundation on problem areas again if necessary.
The trick to concealer is to apply only to the problem area (the redness of a pimple for example) and blend the edges. If you can't do this precisely with your fingers, then I would suggest using a thin tipped makeup brush.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (in N3) (buy it here) - Next is foundation. I love this pressed powder/foundation from MAC. It's a two in one! And its constancy offers several applying options. For a heavier base, I use the sponge located in the bottom compartment of the compact (I'm sure to wash it weekly to avoid bacteria buildup!). Or for a lighter base I use a big fluffy brush to dust the powder all over.
Even applied heavily, this foundation doesn't feel cakey or dry.
I only have one beef about this foundation. It reflects light - which makes you look glowy and lovely in person, but can sometimes make my face look ghostly, weird and washed out in photos taken with a flash.

Quick sidebar: I love MAC products. They are worth the money, in my opinion - particularly in a foundation or concealer for a fair skinned girl like me. Before I made the plunge into buying department store foundation I struggled to find anything in the drugstore that would match my skin tone. And if I did find one I usually had to start from scratch when I ran out because the line was no longer available. Not only did the MAC staff help me with a colour match, I now can walk in, ask for my colour and walk out stress free! That's worth it's weight in gold in my books!

Cheeks and Eyebrows

Benetint Rose Tinted Cheek & Lip Stain (buy it here) - I use this as blush. I've talked about this product in a previous post concerning its capabilities as a lip stain here. I would cry a million tears (or more!) if this stain was discontinued. I have always had a hard time finding a blush that looked natural against my pale skin. Some were too orangey, some were too pink. Benetint has serious staying power and looks pretty and natural.
The product is liquid and has a brush applicator (like nail polish). I paint an 'X' on the apple of my cheek and a 2-3 small vertical lines along my cheekbone. Then blend with my fingertips. I do one cheek at a time to avoid streaks and uneven drying.
It's easy to apply in layers if you want a bolder look, or apply it with a light hand for a barely there blush.

Annabelle Eyebrow Pencil in Medium Brown (buy it here) - I fill in my eyebrows every day. I'm a natural blonde and my eyebrows are a lot lighter than my dyed dark hair. I also like the way a darker brow frames my face.
The trick to a good brow is firstly, in good brow maintenance. I tweeze my own eyebrows and trim them into shape with small sharp scissors. There are plenty of good YouTube videos about this if you are new to it. I won't go into much more detail here.
The next trick is a good sharpener. Mine is from Ben Nye (buy it here). Be prepared to have to buy a new one once in a while - the blades will never be sharp forever.
I love the built in brush on this pencil. It means I can throw it in my purse for touch ups and have one less thing to cart around with me. It's also got good staying power - the crayon is a bit waxy and really sticks to my eyebrow hair. I've even worn it swimming and it hasn't moved too much! So I'm rarely worried about it sliding all over my face.
Otherwise, this is a pretty standard drugstore brand pencil. I go through one or two a month, so purchasing one at a lower price point just makes sense.

Eyes

MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch (buy it here) - This is the best, most beautiful nude eyeshadow I've ever worn. Seriously. The colour isn't quite pink, or coral or beige - just the perfect nude - a bit of each. And it's not too shimmery - just enough for daytime.
There is nothing quite like MAC eyeshadows. The pigment is saturated and has great staying power.
I apply this shadow to the lid of my eye and just on the outside crease with an eyeshadow brush.

Quo Crushed Diamonds Highlighter - Okay, I'm a bit embarrassed to be posting this, but I bought this a few years ago and it has lasted me FOREVER! It's not available to purchase anymore. This highlighter was available at Christmas at Shoppers Drug Mart (Quo is their store brand) and I bought it. I've used a few other products intermittently, but am now trying to use it up.
This product does double duty for me. I apply it right at the center of my eyelid over my eyeshadow instead of using another light shadow for highlight and then apply it under my eyebrow, above my cheekbone and in the inside corner of my eye.
I'm currently on the hunt for a replacement powder highlighter for when this one runs out. Any suggestions?

Revlon Eyelash Curler (buy it here) -After shadow and highlighter I curl my lashes. This is a basic model, I've had it for years and it's never let me down.
When curling my lashes I make sure to get as close to the base as possible and squeeze gently. You want a nice arched curve, not a 90 degree angle. I also tilt the lash curler towards my eye as I squeeze to get more lift.
If you found you've crimped your lashed in a square, take your fingers and coaxed them back down gently pressing on the crimped part and try again.

Annabelle Eyeshadow in Ebony (buy it here) - I use this black eyeshadow (it looks dark brown on the website) to tightline my lashes. (Go here for a great tutorial on how to tightline).
After curling my lashes I use a small straight lining brush to press in the powder.
Most days I leave it at this, skip eyeliner and apply mascara. Tightlining my lashes makes a huge difference on how my eyes look. It emphasized and fills in gaps when I use eyeliner and makes my lashes look fuller when I skip the liner.Benefit BADgal Waterproof Eyeliner in Black (buy it here) - Up until very recently I'd been using Annabelle's Liquid Eyeliner in Black, but wasn't completely satisfied - it was very water soluble and wouldn't stay put. I was stocking up my usual Benefit products and got this eyeliner as a gift one day. I was sold! It has amazing staying power, the colour is a deep, rich black and the pencil sharpens to a fine tip - perfect for applying a wing.
I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a great waterproof eyeliner pencil.
When I apply my eyeliner I start in the middle of my eye and work outwards. I don't sharpen the pencil right away. I lay down a base line from the middle of my eye to the outer corner letting the line get thicker on the outer edge. Then I sharpen the pencil and draw in a thin line from my tearduct to the middle.
After that I sharpen again, if necessary and freehand the top of the wing from the top of the outer edge of the liner and fill in the bottom. When I go to match up the wing on the other eye I grab a hand mirror and look down while I draw and match the lines left to right. Never fails to work (got that tip from Dita!).
I don't line the bottom of my eye. ever.
I'm sure that's incredibly confusing with no pictures. There are dozens of great tips and cheats for perfect winged liner on YouTube and Pintrest. I've developed my own way after years of experimenting and practice.

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara in Blackest Black (buy it here) - I've tried a lot of mascaras in my day - expensive brands, dollar store, every make and model under the sun and I swear this is the best mascara I've used in years - especially for the price.
It does what it promises and separates every lash. After curling and tight lining - one coat of this mascara and bam! Almost like falsies (ok, I might be exaggerating here..but it's pretty good!).
When applying my mascara I make sure to get the wand right close to the base of the lashes and rock it back and forth and I sweep it to the tips. I dab off the excess product on the tip of the wand in a tissue and use the end to coat the lashes in the corners of my eye and the bottom outside lashes.

Brushes

A quick note about makeup brushes. I have a wonderful set of brushes from Sephora that I received for Christmas one year (similar to this one) and the silver handled brushes were a Christmas gift another year. But please, don't feel the need to go to a beauty counter and buy brushes. Go to an arts supply store and buy natural bristled paint brushes for a fraction of the cost. I have plenty of other brushes that I've bought at an arts store. There is no denying that some specialty brushes may have to be bought at the beauty counter, but common types of brushes will be available by this method.

Next I apply lipstick.
I've already addressed my favourite lipsticks in this post. So I feel no need to re-iterate here.

And that's it! Ready to meet the world with my face on!

What are your favourite beauty products? Do you love drugstore brands? Or are you fiercely loyal to brands like MAC and Benefit like me?
Lisa.xo

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I'm often asked about my skin care regime and what kind of makeup I use. So, like any good blogger, I thought it was about time I shared it with you all.

Unlike some hardcore vintage bloggers, I do not boast a regime straight from 1952. I'm a modern woman with modern needs. So what I slather on my face every morning is also modern.

I've decided to break this post into two. This post focuses on my cleansing routine and the next will be about my makeup.

Proactiv - I figure I should just address this right off the bat, since I'm sure that's the biggest surprise. I have been plagued with bad acne since I was in junior high. For years I had a prescription acne medication that eventually went over the counter which I still used up until this summer. Along with numerous other acne treatments. Most of them only treated surface acne and major breakouts. This past summer my tried and true medication just stopped working and my face revolted. I knew it was time to bring in the big guns.
I'd been thinking about trying Proactiv for over a year and finally took the plunge after a lot of research online. It's a three step method with a lot of extra add ons from the company if you're interested. I'm happy with the basics: Cleanse, Tone and Treat.
Plus my scrub brush, also from Proactiv. I use it nightly with the Cleanser after I remove my makeup.
I find that Proactiv has changed the way the skin on my face feels. It used to be quite oily, now it is drier, but feels softer.
Most importantly, I have noticed a difference in my acne. The blackheads and under-the-surface acne on my nose and chin have almost completely disappeared after a month. I'm still getting a few small breakouts in strange areas, but I'm hoping that will subside with more use and it's just my skin expelling some of the bad stuff as I use the treatment.
Overall, I'm really happy with this product line and will continue to use it. I'm able to wear less makeup on casual days - which is a first for me.

Pond's Cold Cream - I use this old school beauty product for makeup removal before I start my Proactiv regime. I have found that nothing works as well for getting off stubborn eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. I have an arsenal of facecloths dedicated for makeup removal and use a new one each night. I find that Pond's keeps my skin feeling soft and hydrated - not greasy at all.

Neutrogena Aglesss Intensives Serum - I have/had some pretty deep forehead wrinkles. I use this product to soften the lines on my forehead and around my eyes. I only use it in the morning before I moisturize. I little dab will do you! This bottle lasts me a long time.

Olay 7 Signs of Aging Moisturizer - This is my daily morning and night time moisturizer. I use it after my Proactiv regime. Proactiv sells an oil free moisturizer, but I like the features of this one and using it instead of the Proactiv moisturizer doesn't seem to be a problem so far. This moisturizer treats fine lines, discolouration, reduce pore size and other magical things which I can't remember right now. I buy the fragrance free moisturizer - the scented one is very strong and makes my eyes sting. I also buy the one with 15 SPF when it is in stock at my drugstore (they seem to go through phases of not carrying it).

After I've applied my moisturizer in the morning I wait for it to dry a bit then start applying makeup. Which will be the next post, coming in a few days.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes at Halloween I do want to wear a costume that's a bit sexy. I'm not talking Mean Girls sexy or anything (if you don't understand that reference, please click here.), I mean a costume with thought, but also a bit of sex appeal.

Well, there seem to be a lot of great halloween inspiration posts for vintage gals floating around, but nothing for a girl looking to be a bit provocative, yet still have a costume catered for her vintage aesthetic...I'm here for you friends.

1. Carmen Miranda. For full the vintage glam effect, wear false eyelashes, perfect winged eyeliner and pouting red lipstick. For a more vintage authentic look make sure your skirt covers your bellybutton! No low slung skirts here! Also kick it up a notch with amazing repro (or authentic, if you dare!) peep toe platform shoes - the higher the better (Carmen was known for her sky high platforms!).The plus here is that you don't have to style your hair - the turban fruit hat hides all sins!

2. Original Barbie. I love this idea, and hope to replicate it one year. All you need is a vintage style stripy bathing suit - many beautiful suits are available online (such as this one here), some sunglasses and heels. Again, makeup is everything with this look. Red lips, winged liner thick false eyelashes and some blue eyeshadow. Don't forget to pose like a doll all night - that will really sell the look!

3. Jessica Rabbit. This is easily the sexiest look on my list - and please don't feel the need to find a dress as revealing as the one pictured above. I think any slinky sparkly red dress will get the message across - just remember to slit it up one side to show those gorgeous gams! Purple long gloves and red pumps. Again, this look is all about makeup and hair. A red wig may be in order if you don't already have amazing long red hair. Once again, red lips are your friends, but to be Jessica, you need some bold purple eyeshadow, the usual winged liner and I would also add falsies to this look. A push up bra and some amazing sheer nude hose wouldn't hurt either.
For bonus points have your man dress up like Roger Rabbit.

4. Wonder Woman. Who wouldn't want to be a badass superhero for Halloween? Wonder Woman is a great iconic character with a little vintage style and tons of sex appeal. The trick not to look trashy in this costume is not not buy it at your local party store. Invest some time and resources to get a red bustier and glam it up yourself with gold accents, buy a pair of blue high waisted tap pants from American Apparel or a dancewear store and paint on the starts with fabric paint. This is a great tutorial for making superhero boots with a few supplies and little money.
Simple makup is the name of the game here. nude lips and subtle liner and lashes. Set your hair in curls and voila!

5. I Dream of Jeannie. The first woman to bear her complete midriff and bellybutton on national television?! How much sexier and provocative can you get than that!? haha! I love this costume and it's versatility in flesh baring options. If you want to be more covered, wear an opaque pant and opt for the high waisted early Jeannie costume option. You could also cheat a bit and wear a long sleeved cropped jacket instead of a vest. Or, go for a more revealing look with a low slung, sheer legged harem pant, bra top and vest.
Jeannie's makeup is all about the eyes. Thick black liner and I would opt for falsies with this costume as well for maximum eye batting potential. Again, a nude, or pretty sheer pink lip and you're set!
Bonus points for dressing your man up like Major Nelson.

So there you have it. 5 slightly sexy (some more sexy than others..) Halloween Costumes with a vintage twist.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

I have always wanted a green fur trimmed vintage wool coat, but when I find them they are miles too big for me or are too worn for me to consider buying them.

Until yesterday...I was hunting at Value Village for Halloween costumes (no, not vintage for the hoard collection...actual halloween costumes for The Boy and his brother) and I found this coat. I was afraid to try it on...I really couldn't afford it this week, but it fit like a glove and I couldn't leave it there...it's my vintage dream coat people!!

It was +20 Celsius today...which is unseasonably warm for October in Winnipeg and all I can think about is snow..I just want to wear this coat.

Friday, October 4, 2013

My show opened last night to a sold out house. Best of all, I was able to premier the newest addition to my vintage dress collection.

I bought this beauty right after I wrote my wishlist post this summer for a leopard print dress. I found this dress on Etsy in a great little shop called Fabstract while looking for wishlist inspiration and couldn't pass it up. The seller Val was so amazing and let me put the dress on layaway for the summer despite the fact that her shop doesn't offer layaway. Sometimes you just know when something is meant to be right? I knew this dress had my name all over it.